Well, there goes 2018. Hope it was good to you. Here are my top 9 photos of the year according to Instagram. Although the one of me was taken by Terry Day! Nice to look back and curious because what your favourite photos, or what you might consider the “best” …. are seldom what other think. The thing I like about these are they are a product of great subjects and great adventures. Here is to 2019 so get out there and make great photos! #2018bestnine.

The movie poster for An Audience of Chairs. Shot in Tor’s Cove, Newfoundland in the summer of 2017 and still one of my favourite images. This film is not making the film festival circuit so treat yourself and go check it out. FaceBook page for news!

Mandy and Steve got married!! …but being avid rock climbers they wanted some photos that reflected their love of the sport. This is not the realm of regular wedding photographers so they turned to their local climbing community. So on a beautiful fall morning our small crew headed out to make this happen for them. Along with Mandy and Steve there was, rope access specialist and photographer Terry Day, experienced climber Thom Smith, all ’round adventurer and drone pilot Brandon Whelan and myself. We had a location in mind at a regular climbing crag in Flatrock, north of St John’s that had the right combination of dramatic and being fairly “wedding dress accessible” …despite being called “BloodBath”. The plan was reviewed, ropes were rigged, the drone was launched and everyone took their places. I’m hoping this was a first for Newfoundland. Thanks everyone for an epic shoot and a big congratulations to Mandy and Steve!

Back in August outdoor retailer, Atmosphere, came out to Newfoundland to shoot their fall ad campaign on the iconic East Coast Trail …and it was a blast! Our crew of eight hiked, scouted explored and shot in locations from Flatrock to LaManche over 5 days. Even Cape Spear …as far east as you can go in North America! For a photography and ad people its very rewarding to be doing full on advertising production on location in beautiful place.

Its no big secret that editorial photography and photojournalism in general has taken a big hit over the past few years. There are very few outlets that actually pay or commission this work any more and it is now not more than a hobby for individuals who can afford to do it and have some vision or sence of adventure. This is why getting to work on Anthony Bourdain’s, Parts Unknown in 2018 was not only a great honour but a nice change of pace photographically for me as I return, briefly, to my “old life” …on the road with a couple of cameras.

The death of Bourdain not long after the Newfoundland segment of the TV show and the web stories launched only made it more poignant for me. He was a big person with a big heart who loved travel and telling stories. Food was the vector. Something all humans have in common regardless of all our other differences. The TV/video shows are great but the Parts Unknown Website and its companion site, Roads and Kingdoms are an expansion of the TV series and a testament to his dedication for journalism …get out their on the road.

In fact, Roads and Kingdoms may well be the best or travel/adventure journalism out their now. Do yourself a favour and go visit.

Erinn Locke climbing on the Crab House boulders in Flat Rock, Newfoundland. for Global Climbing Day. She is a competition climber, member of the Alpine Club of Canada and supported by Scarpa and Prana through Agences Stephane Morin in Montreal.